Insulating material

Abstract

Insulating material is formed in a continuous strip and comprises a web of flexible impervious polymeric material in which individually spaced elongate pockets have been formed transversely across the elongate strip. Insulation material is located in the pockets which are covered by a sheet of impervious foil material, such as aluminium foil, which forms one outer surface of the completed web of insulating material. The foil is heat sealed to the polymeric material so that the insulation material in the pockets is totally encompassed by impervious material, thus minimizing deteriorization of the insulation properties of the insulation material. The insulation material can be foamed in the pockets or can take the form of powder or foam granules. The construction of the web of insulating material allows the material to be folded into a relatively small volume for the most economic transportation, while in use as an insulating material, the pockets are butted together to form a most effective insulation layer for pipes in buildings, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation or insulation attached to preconstructed wall portions of timber frame houses.

I claim: 
     
       1. An insulating material comprising a flexible web of spaced impervious material, a plurality of individual strips of insulation material extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the flexible web each strip being completely encompassed by impervious material, and a metal foil forming at least one outer surface of the insulating material. 
     
     
       2. An insulating material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strips are held within pockets of impervious material forming part of or attached to the web. 
     
     
       3. An insulating material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web comprises a single sheet of impervious material folded longitudinally thereof to define overlapping portions which are adhered at spaced intervals to leave closed pockets between the overlapping portions. 
     
     
       4. An insulating material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the web comprises two sheets of impervious material adhered at spaced intervals to leave closed pockets between the sheets. 
     
     
       5. An insulating material as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pockets are filled with organic or inorganic insulating material. 
     
     
       6. An insulating material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pockets are filled with a porous insulation material. 
     
     
       7. An insulating material as claimed in claim 6, wherein the porous insulation material comprises polymeric foam material. 
     
     
       8. An insulating material as claimed in claim 7, wherein the polymeric foam material is in particle form. 
     
     
       9. An insulation material as claimed in claim 8, wherein the web comprises pockets formed by drawing the web into troughs in a former, filling the pockets with insulation material, applying a laminate of metal foil and polyethelene film over the web and heat sealing the laminate to the web to form pockets of impervious material completely encompassing the insulation material. 
     
     
       10. An insulating material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal foil is aluminium foil. 
     
     
       11. An insulating material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strips of insulation material are spaced from each other by at least the width of one strip. 
     
     
       12. An insulating material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impervious material of the web is a polymeric material. 
     
     
       13. A method of forming an insulating material comprising providing an elongate web of flexible impervious material, fixing spaced individual strips of insulation material along the web transverse to the longitudinal axis of the web, each strip of insulating material being completely encompassed by impervious material and arranging for at least one outer surface of the insulating material to be a metal foil.